Edge grinding machine



July 8, 1941; c. B. WILLIAMS, JR EDGE @BINDING MACHINE 3 sheets-sheet 1 Filed Nay'sl.- 1939 v Imventor v CARL E. WML/AMJ o/e.y

Ottomeg July 8, 1,941.

C. B. WILLIAMS, JR

EDGE GRINDING MACHINE Filed May 31; 1939 :s sheets-Shasta ZSnventor Can Z3. WML/AMG c/A.

dttorneg July 3, 1941. B. WILLIAMS, JR 2,248,263

EDGE GRINDING MACHINE Filed May $1, 1939- 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Gttorneg Patented July 8, 1941 omiso i sinrr-ls PATENT# oFFicE EDGE GR-INDING MlrcHmE o Carl B. Williams, Jr., Toledo, -Ohimassignorlo Libbey-Owens-Ford Glass Company, Toledo, Ohio, a corporationof Ohio n .l I y Application May 31, 1939, serial No. 216,570 l 9 claims. (c1. 517-15110.)

The present invention relates to edgegrinding machines in Vgeneral and more particularly to an improved machine for grinding curved edges of sheets or plates of glass andthe like.

An important obj ect o'f the invention is the provision ofA a grinding machine of relatively simplified and inexpensive construction primarily designed for use in grinding the rounded cornersv of* sheets or plates of glass Which are to be employed as door and/or window lights in automotive vehicles, although `it is of course in no way restricted to such use.-

Another object of the inventionis the provision of a grinding machine ofk the above character which Will nish the rounded corners of the glass' sheets or plates rapidly, accurately, and economically and with'a minimum amount of effort and attention on the part of the operator, whereby uniformly rounded edges with Well-finished surfaces may be secured;

Another object of the invention is the provision said sheets or platesin proper position within said g work holder during rockinggmovement thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a grinding machine of the above character including novel means for supporting the work holder for free vertical floating movement during the rocking thereof and for also raising the work holder at the end of its rocking movement in either direction to'move the glass' sheet or plate out of contact withthe grinding wheel.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent during the Acourse of the following description when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same: o

Fig. 1 is aside elevation of a grinding machine constructed in accordance with the present invention; o k n Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section' through the'work kholder mounted for rocking movement above the grinding wheel;

Fig.i3.i's avertical section taken' substantially onlinef-ZiL-Gcii Fig. 2l;

Fig. 4 is an inner `end` View `of the machine showing" the` means for vrocking' the work holder;

Flgl isa' detail view of one ofthe cam members forsupportingV andguidingthe work holder during rocking movement-thereof; and' `lignY illustrates-one ofthe sheets or plates of glas'sgroii'nd' uponthe machine.

In the'embodmentilliistratedin the drawings,

the grinding machineV includes a grinding wheelV HI rotatable abouta horizontal axis IIy and provided Withloneor a plurality of grooves I2 in the periphery thereof. The o grinding Wheel is arrangedwithin lreceptacle |13 adapted to contain a suitable abrasive' material' Within which the lower portionl Q'flsaidfwheel"isadapted to be immersed iny a manner Well known in the art. The topoi the receptacle I3 is provided Witha slot I`4` (Fig`.-2) through Which'the upper portion of the grinding Wheelprojects.

The means vfor supporting-the glasssheets to be ground comprises a work holderrdesignated in its entiretyv by thefnurneral I5, said work holder beingA mounted" alfove theggrinding wheel IE! for free V'erticalnand rocking movement as will be more fully-hereinafter described, The work holder I5 Acomprises, apair of yspaced vertical side members or frames "I Sfand I'l'between which one orf auplurality* oi glass" sheets 'JI 8V to be ground are adapted'ltofvbe received, said `sheets being disposed on e'dgein avertic'al position'.k The side frames I`6` ari'djl'l'are adapted to yloe of such size and so shapdftnat thgjrpundededges I9 (Fig. 6) at the innernlow-er corners offtherglass sheetsproject therebeyond, as indicatedfin Fig. 2, so thaty upon rocking of the,v work holder, vthe. said edgesv I9 WiIIbe-inOved backward and forwardover and in engagement'with thejgrinding'wheel I9.

Arranged transversely betweenand4 carried by theside frames I ltand I1 of work" holder I5 at the lower end thereof .arev the three horizontally disposed supportingY rollers 20', 2 I 'and 22 for supo porting theV glasssheets thereon; teach of said therein.

Also arrarg'ed between: and -carried by the side frames of the work holder are the positioning rollers 21 and 28 each being provided with grooves 29 for receiving the inner edges 30 of the glass sheets I8 therein. An additional roller 3|` is carried at the upper end of the work holder to engage the upper edges 32 of the glass sheets. This roller 3| is carried by a shaft 33 mounted at its opposite ends in the side frames I6 and I1 of the work holder and includes the relatively large discs 34 vwhich provide relatively deep grooves 35 therebetween for receiving the upper edges of the glass sheets therein.

The side frames I6 and I1 of the work holder are connected together at their upper ends by an inverted U-shaped bracket including a horizontal portion 36 and downturned end portions 31 and 38 which are received between and secured to said side frames. The horizontal portion 36 of said bracket is also provided with a depending web 39 through which the shaft 33 of roller 3| extends. In order to assist in maintaining the side frames of the work holder in properly spaced relation, there are provided the bolts 40, 4I and 42 which extend between said side frames and carry the spacing sleeves 43, 44 and 45 respectively, said bolts passing through the side frames and being secured by nuts 46 (Fig. 1).

The glass sheets I8 are adapted to be inserted into the work holder I from the outer end thereof and after being properly positioned are adapted to be secured therein by the rollers 41 and 48 which yieldably engage the outer edges 49 of the sheets. The roller 41 is carried by a shaft 50 supported at its opposite ends by links 5| and 52 carried at their inner ends by the shaft 33 of roller 3|. The links 5| and 52 are provided with slots 53 through which the roll shaft 33 extends to permit a limited longitudinal movement of the links 5 I and 52 relative to said shaft. Also pivoted to the opposite ends of shaft 50 of roller 41 are the inner ends of links 54 and 55 which carry at their outer ends the shaft 56 of the roller 48.

Carried upon the inside of each side frame I6 and I1 of the work holder are the upper and lower bracket arms 51 and 58, with which the retaining rollers 41 and 48 are removably associated. Each bracket arm 51 and 58 is pivoted to the respective side frame at its lower end as at 59 and provided at its upper end with the spaced fingers 60 and 6| to provide an upwardly opening slot 62 therebetween. The bracket arms 51 and 58 are normally drawn inwardly by tension springs 63 and 64 respectively, with the inward movement thereof being limited by stops 65 and 66 carried by the side frames. Each tension spring 63 and 64 is connected at one end to a lug 61 0n the respective bracket arm and at its opposite end to a bolt 68 passing through a boss 69 on the respective side frame and having threaded thereupon a nut 10.

After the glass sheets I8 have been inserted within the work holder I5, so that the inner edges 30 thereof engage the fixed rollers 21 and 28.l the rollers 41 and 48' are moved downwardly so that the opposite ends of the shaft 50 of roller 41 are received within the slots 62 in the upper ends of bracket arms 51, while the opposite ends of the shaft 56 of roller 48 are received within the slots 62 in the upper ends ofbracket arms 58, as shown in broken lines in Fig. '2. The upper end of thenger 6| of each bracket arm may be bent outwardly as indicated at 1I to facilitate the insertion of the roll shafts 50 and 56 "therein The actuation of the rollers 41 and 48 may be facilitated by means of handles 12 carried by the links 54 and 55.

The work holder I5 is rockably mounted upon the top of the receptacle I3, and to this end there are provided at the lower inner corner of said work holder the outwardly projecting trunnions 13 and 14 (Fig. 3) which are rotatably mounted within bearing blocks 15 and 1B respectively. These bearing blocks are carried at the inner ends of substantially horizontal supporting arms 11 and 18 which are pivotally mounted at their outer ends upon a transverse shaft 19 supported at its opposite ends in bearings and 8| mounted upon brackets 92 and 83 respectively carried by the receptacle |3. With this construction, it wil be seen that the Work holder can be rocked about a substantially horizontal axis defined by the trunnions 13 and 14 and simultaneously permitted a free vertical floating movement due to the pivotal mounting of the supporting arms 11 and 18.

The means for rocking the work holder I5 includes a pair of substantially horizontal connecting rods 84 and 85, each comprising a sleeve 86 pivoted to the respective side frame of the work holderv as at 81 (Fig. 1) and carrying at its outer end a screw 88 upon which is threaded a relatively shorter sleeve 89 and nut 90. Pivoted to the outer ends of the sleeves 89 are the depending links 9| and 92 pivoted at their lower ends upon a horizontal shaft 93 mounted in bearing blocks 94 and 95 carried by a bracket 96 secured to the receptacle |3. Keyed to the shaft 93, intermediate 'its ends, is a link 91 pivoted as at 98 to the upper end of a vertical pitman 99 driven from the motor |00. The drive shaft IIJI of the motor carries an eccentric |02 to which the pitman 99 is pivoted at its lower end as at |03.

The lower ends of the links 9| and 92 are maintained in properly spaced relation by collars |04 and |05 carried by shaft 93 at opposite sides of link 91. Arranged between and carried by the links 9| and 92 adjacent their upper ends is a T-member including a horizontal portion |06 and a depending leg I 01. The horizontal portion |06 of the T-member is pivoted upon a rod I 08 fixed at its opposite ends to links 9| and 92, while the vertical leg |01 thereof is connected at its lower end to the link 91 intermediate the ends thereof. Upon operation of the motor |00 to rotate the eccentric |02, the work holder I5 will be rocked through the linkage mechanism above described rst in a counter-clockwise direction to thek position indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1 and then in a clockwise direction back to starting position as shown .in full lines.

For the purpose of supporting and guiding the workrholder through the desired path during rocking thereof, depending upon the curvature of the corner I9 of the sheei-l to be ground, there are carried upon the inner faces of the side frames I6 and I1 of the work holder the two supporting and guiding cam members ||0 and III, each cam member being provided with a curved outer edge II2 conforming to the curvature of the rounded corner I9 of the glass sheet to be ground. The cam members IIO and III are adapted to engage circular supports I|3 and II4 respectively carried by the brackets I|5 and I |6 secured to the top of the receptacle I 3. Upon rocking movement of the work holder, the curved edges I I2 of the cam members slide over the circular supports |I3 and ||4 to cause the inner lower corner of the work holder to travel through a path corresponding to the contour of the ground fromc todj (Fig. 6).

agrar-ea roundedt cor-ner" I'Q oitheA glass sheettdbe" ground;-

More specifically, the curvature of'thefedges: flZ` of thecammem'bers lli) and'I l-lltrom-the-points a' to b Figa 5)v corresponds to-thecurvature of` the roundedicor-ner I-9y of the glass-sheet ltobe a.' and h'of the" cam members Hlland H I-, thev cor-ners lill and H 8 of' said camv member-s1 project beyond the edges 24' and 30 respectivelyf of` the' sheet I8 andserve to effect the raisingof the sheet from the grinding Wheel whenA the Workvr holder-reaches the end of its rocking movement-v in either-direction. This is desired in order to-` Asl shown inprevent burning ofl the sheet edge; Fig.A 2, the bottom edge 254- of the glassAIV sheet is raised= out of contact with the grinding Wheel andatVL suchtime the work holder is supported upon the t'opof the receptacle l3 Byusing cam'- members offdifferent shapes` and'-y sizes, itwill'be readily appreciatedthat cornersor edges ofi varying curvature may be groundl upon the machine. Thus, the outer edges' H2 of the cam members may-be'shapedito dene either regular, irregular, or compoundA curves; Also,

by changing the size of the eccentric |02 to'vary Thus, asshown in Fig. 1, the Workiholder |53 issupported upon the top of the receptacle in` its' initial starting'position. However, by shortening the length ofthe-connecting rods 84 and 85,- the Workholder can be turned in a counter-clockwise direction. and lifted from off the receptacle;

This adjustment will change the point on thev` sheet edge -at which the grinding begins, although the length of edge ground'will'remain*the'sameVL with any given-size of' eccentric.

It is to be understood that the form of v the invention herewith shown and described is to be takeny as the preferred embodiment of the same,

andthatvarious changes in-the shape, size and- Beyond` the points arrangement'of partsy maybe resorted to withouty v departing from the' spirit of' the invention orthe' scope of the subjoined claims;`v

I claim:

1. In a machine for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding Wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a work holder positioned above said Wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position, substantially horizontal supporting arms pivotally associated at their inner ends with the Work holder adjacent the lower end thereof and upon which said work holder is rockably mounted, means for pivotally mounting said supporting arms at the opposite ends thereof so that the said Work holder is capable of free vertical movement, means independent of said supporting arms and pivotally connected with said Work holder above the said supporting arms for rocking said Work holder to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with said grinding Wheel, and cam means for supporting said Work holder during the rocking movement thereof and for controlling the contour ground upon the curved edge of said sheet.

2. In a machine for grinding the curved edge of a sheet, or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding Wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a work holder posisof to-vground? onledg'ie inl a: substantially verticaliV positioni, substantially horizontal supporting arms'l pivotally associated at their1 inner-endswith the? work? holder" adjacent the lov/eri end ther'eot' and upon' whichfsaidlvvork holder-'is rckiably mounted,- me'ans fiorlf' pivotally mour-tiig' saidl supporting-' work noider'iscapalezoff freeverncarmovemnt;

ingfW-hel; aridcam members c'arredhyL saidJWrk-l holder" andi rocking;y therewith forv controlling A the contour ground upon the curved edge of'v sa'id'- sheet.-

3.1m :i1-machine for grinding nie-fcurved?edge-l offa sheet-or plate oiz glasslorJ the like, a? rotary` tioned ab'ovefsaidi wheel?l fr suppc'irtingthe-"sheet-l tol grorid on' edge inl al substantially vertir-al positiorisubstantially'horizontal"supportirig arms pivot'ally associatedl atu their inner' ends' -With the" work holder adjacent the lower end thereof an'd uponiwhich'said lworkholderl is rockablyi rnounted,

mean's'fl fori pivotally mounting? said y supportingarim's: a't the lopposite end's'- thereof f' so that tl'iesaidv means-independentofi said' supporting i arrrisf and1 pivoteillyi corir'i'ect'edf5 withsaidfworl holder" above' thefsaidl supportingA arms for roclliingj` said 'f work? holden to move: tlie` curved' edge off the4v sheetv to bei ground: over andi engagement with saidgrindingV Wheel; members carrie'd by` said worlrzholder and havingcurvededgesicorrespond r ing to"fthe'1ci1rvaturefofl the` edge' of said sheet? being ground, andmeansfforf roclrttbly`S'lflpMirti-iig said ca-m' membersf during rockingoff the said worlfholderf;

4i aimachine forvl grinding the curved-i edge offa:sh'eet` or! platesofglssor the like, alrotaryi: g-rihditigi- Wheel positioned?"l to `rotateaibout'a' sube stantiallyfhorizontall axis; means mountedI above saldi/wheel for supporting the "sheet 'to'V be Egroundon edge -inlallsubstartiagllyfvertialippsiltion, means for rocking said-f supporting m'eansltmove the curvededge ofi the' sheet to'he ground over` and in engagement With said grinding wheel, and cam members carried by the said sheet supporting means #and rocking therewith for controlling the contour ground upon the curved edge of said sheet, said cam members having portions operating to raise said Vsheet supporting means at the end of its rocking movement in either direction to move the sheet out of contact with the grinding wheel.

5. In a machine for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, means mounted above said Wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position, means for rocking said supporting means to move the curved edge of the sheet to be ground over and in engagement with said grinding wheel, cam members carried by said sheet supporting means and having curved edges corresponding to the curvature of the edge of said sheet being ground, and means for rockably supporting said cam members during rocking of the said sheet supporting means, said cam members having pro- Jecting end portions engaging said last-named supporting means for raising 'said1sheetsupport-"- ing means at the end of its rocking movement in either direction to raise the sheet out of contact grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a sub'-V stantially horizontal axis, awork holder rockably mounted above said wheel` for supporting the sheet to be ground yon edge in a substantially vertical position including spaced side members between which the sheet is received, means arranged between and carried by said side members for engaging one edge of` the sheet, pivotally mounted bracket arms carried by said sidemembers, means extending between and. removably carried by said bracket arms for engaging another edge of the sheet to maintain it in position, means for urging said bracket arms inwardly to hold the said removable means in yieldable engagernent with the sheet edge, and means independent of saidbracket arms for pivotally connecting said removable means to said work holder so that the said removable means may be completely disengaged from the said bracket arms without disassembly thereof from the said work holder.

7. In a machine for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a work holder rockably mounted above said wheel for supporting the sheet to beground von edge in a substantially vertical position including spaced side members between which the sheet is received, fixed means arranged between and carried by said side members for engaging one edge of the sheet, pivotally mounted bracket arms carried by said side members, rollers removably carried by said bracket arms for `engaging another edge of the sheet to maintain it in position against said fixed means, spring means acting to urge said bracket arms inwardly to hold the said rollers in yieldable engagement with the sheet edge, and means independent of.,said bracket arms for pivotally connecting said rollers to said work holder so that the said rollers may be completely disengaged from the said bracket arms without disassembly thereof from the said work holder.

8. In a machine for grinding the curved edge ofa sheetjor plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a work holder rockably mounted above said wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including spaced side members between which the sheet is received, fixed means arranged between and carried by said side members for engaging one edge of the sheet, substantially vertical bracket arms pivoted at their lower ends to said side members and provided at their upper ends with spaced lingers forming upwardly opening slots therebetween, a roller having its opposite ends removably received within slots in said bracket arms and engaging another edge of the sheet to maintain it in position against said fixed means, and means independent of said bracket arms for pivotally connecting said roller to said work holder -so that the said roller may be completely disengaged from the said bracket arms without disassembly thereof from the said work holder.

9. In a machine for grinding the curved edge of a sheet or plate of glass or the like, a rotary grinding wheel positioned to rotate about a substantially horizontal axis, a work holder rockably mounted above said wheel for supporting the sheet to be ground on edge in a substantially vertical position including spaced side members between which the sheet is received, xed means arranged between and carried by said side members for engaging one edge of the sheet, substantially vertical bracket arms pivoted at their lower ends tosaid side members and provided at their upper ends with spaced fingers forming upwardly opening slots therebetween, `a roller having its opposite ends removably received within slots in said bracket arms and engaging another edge of the sheet to maintain it in position against said iixed means, spring means acting to urge said bracket arms inwardly to hold the said roller in yeldable engagement with the sheet edge, means for limiting the inward movement of said bracket arms, and means independent of said bracket arms for pivotally connecting said roller to said work holder so that the said roller may be completely disengaged from the said bracket arms without disassembly thereof from lthe said work holder.

CARL B. WILLIAMS, J a. 

